Prior to ending a nauseating layoff that kept him on the shelf and in quarantine, St. John’s forward Julian Champagnie expressed how amped up he was to return to the court Wednesday night.
In catalyzing SJU’s 89-84 win over DePaul, Champagnie’s career-high 34 points and 16 boards were certainly indicative of a man possessed for a triumphant return.
An all-empowering veteran presence in this Covid-depleted, short handed St. John’s lineup, Champagnie embodied poise and calming scoring leadership down the stretch.
The Bishop Loughlin HS product’s 12-foot jumper gave SJU a 71-69 lead.
Then, following a putback bucket from freshman O’mar Stanley, Champagnie got into the teeth of the Demon Deacons’ defense for a nifty banker with just over five minutes remaining.
Champagnie buried a straight away 3-pointer, as St. John’s seized a 78-72 lead with 4:32 remaining. He culminated the wowing performance with game-sealing free throws.
Our Savior Lutheran product Posh Alexander added 16 points and four assists for the Red Storm.
Dylan Wusu continued to ramp up his importance as a seasoned sophomore combo guard, scoring 17 points and dishing out eight assists.
It was Wusu’s electrifying dunk on a quick transition leak-out that gave St. John’s a 53-50 second half lead.
The momentum rush was short-lived, however, as Depaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty (24 points, seven rebounds) levitated above the rim for a pulsating dunk of his own.
SJU built an early double digit lead during the first half, albeit they could never sustain a sizeable advantage and stymie a vastly improved Depaul team which kept hanging around.
If there was any lingering rust or residual effects or eager jitters from his Covid sabbatical, Champagnie didn’t show it.
The NBA prospect hit four of his first seven shots, including a trio of 3-pointers to get the Red Storm jump-started during the first half.
Alexander drilled a straight-away 3-pointer which established a 32-21 first half lead.
Joel Soriano, the Stepinac HS product who sparked the home team with nine rebounds, got free for a catch-and-dunk, swelling the spread to 34-23.
DePaul never sputtered or allowed the deficit to steepen, counterpunching throughout.
Aaron Wheeler’s baseline drive and nifty up and under, left handed finish lifted the lead to 36-28.
DePaul responded, however, and St. John’s held a thin 39-35 lead at the break following a hard drive from Alexander to beat the halftime buzzer.
Alexander’s play and Champagnie’s torrid scoring pace ultimately overwhelmed the conference foe in the second half.
Alexander banged a 3-pointer, made possible by a stealth offensive board by Soriano, which gave St. John’s a 45-38 edge.
The two teams continued to trade jabs.
The lead changed hands multiple times, until a Wusu banker gave St. John’s a 69-68 lead and Champagnie emerged as the difference maker with vital, pressure-slaying buckets.
With the titanic outburst, Champagnie notched the 14th double double of his career.
